Tommy’s Dream©

By Kathy Lynn

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Tommy has a dream

That he prays for each night

As by his bed he kneels

With his hands clasped tight

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He wants to be able to play

With all the other kids outside

When he comes home from school

Instead of crawling under his bed to hide

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His dad will come home drunk

And start to yell

About the house and food

His mom will tell him to go to hell

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This happens every night

There is no peace in his life

He is so very young

To suffer such strife

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Tommy doesn’t ask for much

He has a simple dream

He wants his mom and dad

Not to always scream

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Simple little dream you say

But a very big one for him

Because they never stop screaming

Each day it begins over again

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Then they take their anger out on him

So he shakes with fear

Runs to his room

And says his prayer

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Crawls into bed without supper again

Because they are too drunk to care

Whether he eats or not

It is as if he isn’t there

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In the morning when he wakes

Quietly he grabs some toast

Running to catch the school bus

The place he loves the most

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It is safe there for a few hours

He can forget his home life

Being scared and alone

Full of fear and strife